Page 232 of 528

Black plate (46,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
The defogger only works when the ignition is on or
during remote start, if programmed. See“Personal
Settings Menu” underVehicle Personalization
on
page 3‑59for additional information.
= (Rear Window Defogger): Press to turn the rear
window defogger on or off. The rear window defogger
stays on for 10 minutes, before turning off.
If the vehicle's speed is above 48 km/h (30 mph), the
rear defogger stays on continuously. If turned on again,
the defogger only runs for about five minutes before
turning off. The defogger can also be turned off by
turning off the engine. The heated outside rearview mirrors also heat to help
clear fog or frost from the surface of the mirror when
the rear window defogger is on. See
Outside Heated
Mirrors on page 3‑40.
Notice: Do not use a razor blade or sharp object
to clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass.
These actions may damage the rear defogger.
Repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
{ (Ventilated Seat): If the vehicle has this feature,
press to turn the driver or passenger side ventilated
seat on. See Heated and Ventilated Seats
on
page 2‑5.
J (Heated Seat): If the vehicle has this feature, press
to turn the driver or passenger side heated seat and
seatback on. See Heated and Ventilated Seats
on
page 2‑5.
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Black plate (57,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may
be a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size
person sitting in the right front passenger's seat
may not have the protection of the airbag(s). See
Airbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑54for more
on this, including important safety information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly
when the ignition key is
turned to START, but the
engine is not running, as
a check to show it is
working.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once the engine starts. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there could be a problem
with the charging system. A charging system message
in the Driver Information Center (DIC) can also appear.
See DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑76for
more information. This light could indicate that there are
problems with a generator drive belt, or that there is an
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. If the
vehicle must be driven a short distance with the light
on, turn off accessories, such as the radio and air
conditioner.
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Page 244 of 528

Black plate (58,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle brake system consists of two hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the vehicle. For normal
braking performance, both circuits need to be working
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
EnglishMetric
This light comes on briefly when the engine is turned
on. If it does not come on then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn if there is a problem. When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
also comes on when the parking brake is set. The light
will stay on if the parking brake does not release fully.
If it stays on after the parking brake is fully released, it
means there is a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully.The pedal may be harder to push, or the
pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 5‑29.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
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Page 245 of 528

Black plate (59,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is
started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light then
goes off. If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light is not
on, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning light is also on, the
vehicle does not have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes. See
Brake System
Warning Light on page 4‑58.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
see DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑76for
all brake related DIC messages.
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Page 248 of 528

Black plate (62,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with a tire
pressure monitoring
system, this light comes
on briefly when the engine
is started. It provides
information about tire
pressures and the Tire
Pressure Monitoring
System.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires is
significantly underinflated.
A tire pressure message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), can accompany the light. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC)
on page 4‑69for more
information. Stop and check the tires as soon as it is
safe to do so. If underinflated, inflate to the proper
pressure. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6‑58for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and Then is
On Steady
This indicates that there may be a problem with the Tire
Pressure Monitor System. The light flashes for about a
minute and stays on steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence repeats with every ignition
cycle. SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation
on
page 6‑62for more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems.
It ensures that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
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Page 249 of 528

Black plate (63,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
This light should come on
when the ignition is on,
but the engine is not
running, as a check to
show it is working. If it
does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
If the check engine light comes on and stays on, while
the engine is running, this indicates that there is an
OBD II problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by the system before
any problem is apparent. Being aware of the light can
prevent more serious damage to the vehicle. This
system assists the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice: If the vehicle is continually driven with this
light on, after a while, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle fuel economy might
not be as good, and the engine might not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that
might not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Notice:
Modifications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of the
vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with
other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect the vehicle's emission
controls and can cause this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty. This
could also result in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on page 6‑4.
This light comes on during a malfunction in one of
two ways:
Light Flashing: A misfire condition has been detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and could
damage the emission control system on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
.If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled as soon as it is possible.
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Page 251 of 528

Black plate (65,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments may have
programs to inspect the on-vehicle emission control
equipment For the inspection, the emission system test
equipment is connected to the vehicle’s Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel. See your dealer if assistance is needed.The vehicle may not pass inspection if:
.the Malfunction Indicator Lamp is on with the
engine running, or if the light does not come on
when the ignition is turned to ON/RUN while the
engine is off.
.the critical emission control systems have not been
completely diagnosed by the system. This can
happen if the battery has recently been replaced or
if the battery has run down. The diagnostic system
evaluates critical emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take several days of
routine driving. If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the inspection, your
dealer can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
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Page 252 of 528

Black plate (66,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Oil Pressure Light
For vehicles with an oil
pressure light, if there is a
problem with the oil, the
light may stay on after
the engine is started,
or comes on while driving.
This light indicates that oil is not going through the
engine quickly enough to keep it lubricated. The engine
could be low on oil or could have some other oil
problem. Have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
The oil light could also come on in the following
situations:
.The light comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on to show that it is working properly. If it
does not come on with the ignition on, there may
be a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
.Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, a
chime sounds and the light may blink on and off.
This is normal.
{WARNING:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. The
engine can become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance can
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule for changing engine oil.
4-66